Title: Stroop Test

Problem Scenario

Have many subjects view a color highlighted in an opposing color. This is to see if conflicting colors will effect how quickly or accurately the human brain will process and identify the color of the font when the word is opposite.

Broad Question

Do conflicting images have an affect on the mind's ability to identify colors?

Specific Question

Does font color affect visual comprehension?

Hypothesis

Studies show that when the brain is forced to perform two opposite tasks, it can confuse it and make it difficult to complete both accurately, effecting the performance. The test I will conduct is to prove that when someone is viewing a color that is written in a different font color, it can confuse the brain, and the person will have to re-evaluate the color. Example: The word green would be written but in a purple font. The person being tested would have to say the color of the font in which the opposing word is written, which they would say purple.

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable: Font Color

Dependent Variable: Time

Second Dependent Variable: Errors

Variables That Need To Be Controlled: Age, Color, Sight

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation:

Visual Comprehension: Clearly understanding and processing what you see
Conflicting colors: Two colors that are opposite
Multitasking (efficiently): Performing two tasks at once and accomplishing both
Congruent stimuli: Purple would be written in purple.
In congruent Stimuli: Purple would be written in purple.
Semantic Interference: The brains inability to decipher the difference in something

---

---

---

---

General Plan

A paper will be set up with a list of colors written in different font. Each person's job is to identify and say the color of the font, not the word displayed. They will run through the list of colors and I will time how long it takes them to say each color. Any mistakes they make will be recorded in a tally graph and added to the bar graph as more time. For example, if they've taken 2 seconds to say the color and they're incorrect, however long it takes them to say it right will be added to the amount of time it takes them to say the color. By the time the person who took two seconds finally says the correct answer, they may have taken up to 15 seconds, depending on their speed. After, I will test the same person with another stroop test. The difference is, this test is much easier to complete and the results are usually completely different. The colors are matching the words, which makes it simply to read; allowing people to have a much faster time.

Test with Opposing Colors
Expectation: Subject will face problems reading; slower and mistakes.




Test With Matching Colors
Expectation: Subject will respond quickly and read faster

Potential Problems And Solutions

1. A color may not be clear:
Example: Blue could be mistakened for purple.
Solution: To avoid this I will test a few people separately, (whose results will not be put into the data) to make sure that overall, each color is clear and easy to recognize.

2. Someone may not understand the directions:
Example: They may think they need to say the color written, not the font color.
Solution: I will go over the instructions several times with each person individually, before they complete the test.

3. Someone may have bad sight.
Example: Someone's sight could affect the way they see the color, which would cause further confusion not expected in the test.
Solution: Make sure everyone can see the color and word easily without struggle, and if they do, find another person to test who can see better.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

I don't believe there would be any safety or environmental concerns, unless somehow the paper the test is on catches on fire, or someone slips on it and is harmed. Since my experiment doesn't have any chemicals or elements, everything should go smoothly. However, I suppose someone could strain their eyes trying to decipher the color, but it probably wouldn't do too much damage, just a minor headache.

Experimental Design

Controlled, manipulated experiment

What is your experimental unit?

I will be measuring the amount of time, in seconds, it takes the person to identify and say the color of the font.

Number Of Trials:

Once. If I were to do it numerous times on the same people, they could improve on it, which wouldn't make the data accurate. However, if I were trying to see if practice makes perfect, it would be a great way to see if doing the Stroop Test more than once effects their performances.

Number Of Subjects In Each trial:

However many people are in Block 8 Science, estimated about 20.

Number of Observations:

How many measurements will you take for each experimental unit times the number or trials

When data will be collected

All of the data should be collected as the test is being done. I will time each person with a stop watch then find the average by adding everyone's times together and dividing it by the amount of subjects tested. The data will then be graphed. The amount of mistakes made by each person will be added up.

Where will data be collected?:

The data will be collected in the Block 8 Science, where everyone will take the test. I will count the amount of seconds it takes the person to run through the list, mistake or no mistakes. Any mistakes made will be tallied up.

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost

Detailed Procedure

Diagram

Photo List

Time Line

---

Data Table

---

---

---

---

Data Analysis

My data shows a clear separation between the recorded time each subject took to read through the Stroop Test and the Matching Test. In the Stroop Test, individuals had to complete the task of reading through a list of 30 different colors that were written in opposites font. The goal was to have them read the color of each word's font. Studies show that completing the two simple yet opposite acts will confuse the brain and cause the person to make mistakes. On the second test, the individual had to do the same thing, but the colors were matching the font. Referring back to Graph 1, Reading of Stroop Time Compared to Matching Time, view Subject #4. The individual took 62 seconds to read the Stroop Test, then scored a quick timing of only 15 on the Matching Test. Both tests had the same amount of colors, but it clearly displays that there is a difference in performance when the colors are opposite. Going over all of the data, there wasn't a single person who read the Stroop Test the same amount of seconds or faster than their score on the Matching Test. This proves that indeed, it is harder for a person to decipher the answer when they are supposed to be saying one thing but are seeing another. The word, because the mind automatically reads it, makes it difficult for the person to ignore and focus on the color. Many people hesitated throughout reading, even stumbling and making a few mistakes.

All Raw Data

Refer to graphs for all Data presented in graph form.

Caption: Spreadsheet of the data collected of each subjects time, then average of everyone's time on each test.

Graphs

The Graph Below, Reading of Stroop Time Compared to Matching Time (sec), presents the data recorded of everyone's time. The person was instructed to read off the colors they saw displayed on a paper. The Stroop Test displays each subject's scores when each color was written in a different font. The Matching Test displays each subject's scores when they were instructed to perform the same task, but with font matching color name. Their performances are compared below.




The Graph Below displays the averages after everyone's time on each test averaged out. The Average Stroop column displays the average of everyone's times on the Stroop Test, and the Average Matching column displays everyone's averaged times on the Matching Test.

The Graph Below displays the mistakes made on each test; Stroop and Matching. The Stroop is depicted as blue, and the Matching Test as red.

Photos

Results

There is a significant distinction in the data. Referring back to Graph 1, "_" we can view the data of the Stroop Test and Matching Test, comparing them to one another. As you can see, the time difference between each individual's reading is prominent just by glancing. The Stroop Test has much taller columns than the Matching Test, meaning that there is a clear separation in times. Every individual who participated in the tests had a much higher reading time in the Stroop Test, where they had to say the font of each color. If we take a look at Subject # 17's time, they took 65 seconds to read 30 colors written in different fonts. That same subject, reading the same amount of words (30), then took only 14 seconds to read all 30 words on the Matching Test. Every individual tested scored faster on the Matching Test; none of them took longer or equal amount of time.

Conclusion

Semantic Interference is the act of the brain having difficulty deciphering something, due to something distracting ones ability to perform. Reviewing my data, I noticed a huge pattern; everyone tested faster on the Congruent

Discussion

I'd heard about the Stroop Test before, but I was curious and determined to see how the human mind reacted to Semantic Interference in person. Semantic Interference is a psychological phenomena in which something distracts someone from deciphering or performing a task. For instance, saying the number 2 while writing the number 3. The Stroop Test is a test designed with colors written in a different font than the color word, which is called Incongruent Stimuli. The individual being tested much read the font color the word is written in, and not the actual word, since Semantic Interference disappears when you are to read the word. I set up a Congruent and Incongruent test. These tests contained 30 words each; the Congruent Test had colors matching their font color, and the Incongruent had opposing colors and fonts. Each individual read both tests, and their mistakes and time for each was recorded. My hypothesis was that everyone would read the Congruent test faster, since studies show that the font matching the word would make it simpler for the brain to register and then vocalize the color. I studied

Benefit to Community and/or Science

Background Research

The Stroop Test is the study of how a human mind deals with Semantic Interference; distracts relating to someone deciphering something. The Stroop Test is done where each individual is faced with Congruent and Incongruent Stimuli. Each of these methods test how the mind reacts to Semantic Interference, and the results were definitive. Individuals had a faster time reading Congruent colors, where the font matched the word. When they read Incongruent colors, their time was much slower and they made mistakes. Studies show that when the individual is asked to read the word instead of the font, the Semantic Interference virtually disappears. The Test measures selective attention and processing speed. People with mental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dementia, Depression, and Schizophrenia experience troubles with the test the most. The test stimulates the frontal lobe, which is in charge of conflict monitoring

References

Abstract

I conducted my experiment with the hypothesis that individuals would take more time reading Incongruent colors than Congruent colors. Congruent is where the font matches the color, and Incongruent is where they are opposing. To test this theory, I set up a list of 30 colors written in a different colored font. The individuals job was to read the font color the word was written in, and not the word itself. This was the Incongruent Test, which was expected to take longer to read. The same individuals then read the Congruent Test, which also had 30 colors. My results supported my hypothesis, and everyone displayed improvement on the Congruent test vs. the Incongruent. Not one person took the same amount of time to read the Congruent as Incongruent, or even had an equivalent amount of time; proving my theory correct.